Frequently Asked Questions

INTRO

Farmer’s Fridge launched in 2013 with the mission of making wholesome, delicious food easily accessible, so people can live a little happier. Our founder Luke Saunders was frustrated with the lack of healthy, 24/7 options available on the road– so he worked with the best in the business to create an automated smart Fridge that puts chef-curated meals and snacks in your hands, in seconds.

Handcrafted in our kitchens. Delivered to the Fridge daily. Available whenever you are.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FOOD?

All of our items are made fresh by hand in our Chicago kitchen and delivered via temperature-regulated vehicles to our Fridges early in the morning. From washing and chopping produce to making dressings from scratch, we pride ourselves on the level of care in our kitchen. We are obsessed with quality, and actively partner with our suppliers to source responsibly grown and harvested ingredients.

HOW CAN I TELL IF THE FOOD IS FRESH?

We stock our fridges with fresh meals, snacks, and proteins Monday through Friday at most locations.

Each food item includes a “donate by” date. This is different than an expiration date. Rather, it’s the date we’ve deemed the food will be past our rigorous food standards for sale. On the “donate by” date, the food item is donated to our community partners to feed someone in need.

Any food in the Fridge that is past its prime will not be available for purchase (we’ll let you know on the touchscreen if something isn’t available).

ARE THE INGREDIENTS LOCAL AND ORGANIC?

We use local and organic ingredients whenever possible, but our focus during sourcing is to find the best quality products available from partners we know and trust. Sometimes this happens to be local and organic, but not all the time.

We strive to work with partners who share our commitment to the best taste possible and who believe in treating their employees and the environment as ethically as possible. Of course, impeccable food safety standards are a must, as well as the capability to meet our demand for volume.

Other considerations as we make our food? We constantly aim to reduce our environmental impact at every level of the production process. Additionally, we believe part of improving the food system includes making sure animals raised for food are treated with respect and are working with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) on our animal welfare policy.*

WHAT HAPPENS TO UNSOLD FOOD?

Unsold food is donated to local community members in need through partnerships with area food pantries. Our food scraps and salads that can’t be donated due to expiration are composted. To date, we’ve composted more than 700,000 pounds of food (that’s roughly the weight of 70 elephants, for your mental picture).

WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY EMPTY JAR?

Our jars are all 100% recyclable and can be tossed in any recycling bin. You can also recycle them at the Fridge on your next visit. However, feel free to keep and reuse them – our customers find lots of creative uses for their jars (think storing dry goods in the pantry, organizing art supplies, or using for leftovers).

Bonus: Our jar packaging is BPA free.

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED USING GLASS JARS?

Yes, this is something the team discusses frequently. Finding a way to make our packaging as sustainable as possible is a top priority and we are constantly researching, testing and formulating new ways to transport our food.

The trouble with using glass specifically is that it makes the food less affordable and is very unsafe for the employees who pack and deliver our meals. We process 15,000+ meals a day in our kitchen facility. If one glass jar breaks during production, that would violate food safety regulations for all the food produced that day. While we’d love to use glass from a sustainability perspective, we aren’t willing to compromise on food quality and employee safety.

WHAT ARE GREENS AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

Greens are the Farmer’s Fridge reward currency. Earn 1 Green for every $2 you spend. 50 greens earns you a $9 reward code.

To accrue Greens, enter your phone number when you order at the Fridge. To redeem Greens, download the Farmer’s Fridge app, where you’ll be able to watch your Greens grow and access your reward codes.

NOTE: Greens will still accumulate in your account even before you download the app – so be sure you enter your phone number on the Fridge every time you order!

Long story short? For every $100 you spend, we’ll send you a code for $9 off.

HOW DO I MOBILE ORDER?

At select fridges, it’s possible to order ahead & reserve your meal through the Farmer’s Fridge app. We’re excited to roll out this feature to all Fridges in the near future. It allows you to pay in advance and reserve your favorite items (no need to worry about beating the lunchtime rush!). You’ll know if your Fridge has mobile ordering if there’s an “Add to cart” option available under menu items when using the app.

To place a mobile order, download the app and select your favorite Fridge. Then, you’ll be able to see what’s available in the Fridge you frequent most regularly. Choose what you want to order, add it to your cart, and check out. You’ll receive a 6-digit order code to use at the Fridge (accessible anytime via the “Purchases” tab on the app). You’ll have until midnight that day to pick up your food.

When you arrive at the Fridge, select ‘Mobile Pick Up,’ enter your 6-digit order code, and get ready to enjoy!

CAN I HEAT YOUR JARS?

Yes, some of our jars go in the microwave (think items like mac and cheese, overnight oats and pasta bowls). Look for the orange heatable symbol on the jar label.

CAN I PUT YOUR JARS IN THE DISHWASHER?

Some of our jars are dishwasher safe and some are not. Our heatable jars (indicated on the label) are dishwasher safe. Our non-heatable jars are not dishwasher friendly. We recommend hand-washing these if you wish to reuse them.

CAN I GET A MACHINE IN MY BUILDING?

We are actively adding Fridge locations every week! Let us know where you’d love to see us expand. Request a Fridge through the link in the footer of our website.

STILL WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Send us a note– we’re all ears 🌽 Email us at info@farmersfridge.com or give us a call at 312.229.0099. We’re standing by Monday – Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm Central Time.